The Competition Council has prepared Guidelines on e-commerce to assist businesses in the digital space in comprehending competition law requirements. The Guidelines focus on anti-competitive agreements and provide recommendations for the e-commerce sector.

The document offers detailed explanations and practical examples on applying competition rules to pricing, online trade requirements, online advertising, and the operation of online marketplaces, including hybrid ones. It emphasizes that distributors must set prices independently without coordinating with competitors, while suppliers should not hinder distributors from effectively using the internet for sales.

The Competition Council highlights the importance of prohibiting resale price fixing in e-commerce and has issued warnings to companies engaging in such practices. Recent cases include identifying an illegal agreement between a cosmetics manufacturer and its distributors, as well as investigating possible violations in companies selling food supplements and cosmetics.

Deputy Chairwoman of the Competition Council, Irma Urmonaitė, emphasizes that the Guidelines aim to remind businesses that both competitors and suppliers/distributors are prohibited from price-fixing. The document serves as a tool to help businesses understand actions that may restrict competition and avoid violating competition laws.

While the Guidelines are not mandatory legislation, they offer guidance on prohibited conduct under competition law and provide relevant recommendations for businesses operating in the digital space.